The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa said it is critical to align transportation with the global digital transformation, adding that the emerging technology creates avenues for digital transformation.
He also said digital transformation is the next generation for the transportation industry in Nigeria.
Inuwa stated this when he received the DG of the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT), Dr. Bayero Farah, and his team on a courtesy visit to NITDA Corporate Headquarters in Abuja.
According to him, emerging technology is currently disrupting transportation models; cars are transforming from being mechanical to automated vehicles, “we now have auto drones and even auto pilots” Inuwa reiterated
The NITDA Boss noted that the launching of the first locally assembled Hyundai KONA Electric Vehicle by the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) was a step towards embracing the emerging technology trends across the globe.
He emphasised the need for software upgrade, to be able to compete healthily with the international community, adding that today’s world is driven by data, research, and development.
Inuwa stated that in line with the digital transformation agenda, the Agency constituted the Digital Transformation Technical Working Groups (DTTWG) in each MDA and the organization designated one of the DTTWG members as its Data Protection Officer.
He further said in line with its mandate, NITDA is creating a framework for the planning, research, development, standardization, application, coordination, monitoring, evaluation, and regulation of Information Technology practices in Nigeria.
He applauded the NITT proposal to open a transport intelligence center as a good initiative, adding that NITDA also recently commissioned its own National Center for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR).
“The NCAIR Centre is intended to provide facilities that would encourage inquisitive perspectives and opportunities to create and develop initiatives’’, the NITDA Boss maintained.
The Centre is expected to attend to trainings, design and print prototype of Drones, Robots, among others. This would be of immense benefit to NITT.
He said that the collaboration and sharing of theoretical aspects would foster the development of prototype that would help the industry and the country especially in job creation.
The NITDA boss pledged his support towards product oriented research that will help initiate solutions to encourage the automation of processes and reduce fraud.
He confirms that NITDA would be willing to partner with NITT in the areas of crafting, design, human capital, data analysis and architectural development of their project to enable and enhance professionalism.
Meanwhile, the DG of NITT, Dr. Bayero Farah, appreciated the opportunity given by NITDA to intimate the agency on the activities of his institute.
Farah disclosed that his institute has been undergoing vigorous trainings in various categories, however, the institute is working on expansion through the opening of a Transport Intelligence Center (TIC).
He applauded the contribution of the NITDA DG and his management team on the need for digital transformation also expressed confidence that this new alliance would foster greater development in ICT within his institute, and the country as the end users.
Dominica Nwabufo
